Get Ready for the Panto Snow White

A thousand nights by E.K Johnston - A review

So I finished the book I spent most of 2016 on the hunt for. A Thousand Nights by E.K Johnston. That book. Its hard to describe so this review might be quite short. Thats not to say I didn't enjoy it. The opposite, I loved it. But its hard to sum up. I find reviews hard because although I can remember what happened and what the book was about. Being specific and remembering moments. Thats hard for me. But I will try.
Firstly this book is not like any book I've read before and I know I say that about the Blood For Blood trilogy by Catherine Doyle which is still true I haven't read a book like that. Its for different reasons. The writing in A Thousand Nights was so unlike anything I had read before. It just flowed, the nearest writer similar to the style is Laini Taylor. They both share this magical ability that the words on the page just flow. They flow lyrically and magically. Not like its a story, like its true. It really brings the story to life. The story just comes alive and flows, again, without it feeling contrite or forced. Or sounding corny. Its original. The story is unlike any I have read before. Its premise and the way its written. It took me a while to finish this book because you have to be in the right headspace to read it. Because its something you have to think about. Its told almost like its a myth; thats what it reminds me of. Myths.

So the premise is a girl, whose name we never find out which again adds to myth element. Takes her sisters place when the king of the land comes to choose a bride. King Lo Melkhin went on a desert trek one day and came out a different man, he goes to a different town, different region and takes a bride. But the bride he chooses never lasts long, they die not long after. To save her sister from that fate, she swaps places and becomes Lo Melkhin's wife. But something is different about her. She doesnt die.

Its a completely new idea. I loved how even though the ending was quite concise but it felt like it was completely explained. I'm going to say it again but the story flowed with a mythical aura to it.

When reading though, you have to be in the mood for it. And be prepared because its not how you expect a book to be. The way the story is, its kind of different and can take a bit of getting used to. Especially considering, you never find out peoples names, especially the main characters name, in the whole story. Its slow paced, lyrical, dense but fascinating novel.

The second book was released on Tuesday. It's called  Spindle. Heres the description for the book on goodreads -

The world is made safe by a woman...but it is a very big world.

It has been generations since the Storyteller Queen drove the demon out of her husband and saved her country from fire and blood. Her family has prospered beyond the borders of their village, and two new kingdoms have sprouted on either side of the mountains where the demons are kept prisoner by bright iron, and by the creatures the Storyteller Queen made to keep them contained.

But the prison is crumbling. Through years of careful manipulation, a demon has regained her power. She has made one kingdom strong and brought the other to its knees, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. When a princess is born, the demon is ready with the final blow: a curse that will cost the princess her very soul, or force her to destroy her own people to save her life.

The threads of magic are tightly spun, binding princess and exiled spinners into a desperate plot to break the curse before the demon can become a queen of men. But the web of power is dangerously tangled--and they may not see the true pattern until it is unspooled.

I have actually asked for Spindle for christmas, it shouldn't be as hard to find hopefully as this book was. I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book especially if you like a thousand and one nights. Or other retellings. I'm one of those people who if its done right I love retellings but there are some dodgy ones out there. But thats my opinion someone else might disagree.

I rate this book 3.5, obviously on goodreads I rated it 4 because I don't think you can do half stars. Well I don't think you can at least.

But yeah I hope you enjoyed this review. Its weird but I really struggle like I said with reviews I find it hard to remember what happened. I know what happened but to be able to write down and say what happened, its why I struggle with movie reviews as well. So much happens that I don't remember all of it. Then to write the bits around what happened my brain just can't take it! Working on it though.

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it.
Sophie

A Streetcat Named Bob : a review

Finally I went and saw A Streetcat Named Bob. What a movie, I was sobbing through most of it. Good sobbing. This is my review and the messages behind the movie that I think are important.

So James Bowen (played by Luke Treadaway, he did it really well) is homeless and a drug addict. After having family problems, which seems to be a big factor in drug addiction and homelessness. He is currently on a methadone program, to come off heroine. But he mets up with a friend and well falls of track. Thats when we are introduced to his support worker Val (played by Joanne Frogart, downton abbey!) who tells him, look this is your last chance. Val manages to get James into supported housing and that is when the star of the show Bob, is introduced. That cat, I feel no one will understand the power that cat has and how much that cat has changed James's life. It was lovely to watch the movie and see how much James cares for Bob. He spent his last £20 on him for his antibiotics. I don't want to spoil the movie because everyone should go see it. One of two moments I want to touch on is when bob is scared off and James can't find him. I was sobbing. That is an emotion I as a cat owner never want to have to feel but so many do. It just showed how much Bob has an effect on James that more than worrying about himself and his drug rehabilitation appointments or anything else, he worried about Bob. Then when Bob came back, the relief and love that you could see was beautiful and again I cried. Sobbed. Another moment is before Bob gets scared off, a lady said to James she'd be happy to take him. Sometimes a person doesn't have much but an animal and that animal can be life changing. Also people called Bob names like vermin. When can we understand that cats are just as worthwhile and important as any animal. Cats are different to dogs and as soon as we stop comparing them its a start. Cats are very aloof at times but when you have their love, you have it in buckets. The amount of times stories have come across my Facebook page of people mistreating cats, as well as other animals, it makes my heart cry. Because look at James and Bob, not saying all cats will be like Bob but they can be amazing in their own right. Like when I got my cats they were, not strays, but easily could have been feral cats. They helped me with my depression, helped me with everything. Even if they don't quite love me like I do them. Animals are beautiful and can be partners for life. Sometimes they can be better than people.
Don't judge what people love because you don't know the reasons behind that partnership.

Another issue that this movie dealt with is homelessness. I can't say I know anyone who has been homeless. But everyone knows the person in their local town selling the big issue or in a corner on the street. Its shocking especially in big cities like London, Manchester, places like that. Then you hear stories of businesses putting spikes outside their business to deter homeless people from sleeping rough there. I was watching James, Bob and the cast of the movie on the one show and they were doing a segment on how homeless people are having to ride the night bus because they can't find somewhere to sleep that is somewhat safe. Can you imagine that, having to constantly be on alert for danger or someone trying to get rid of you or to take advantage of you. Another issue dealt with in the film is the issue of substance abuse. Which is a easy route to fall down if you are homeless. You want to blot out the pain of the situation. Its a grim situation. Which we could be doing a lot more to help. People aren't homeless from day one. Theres a spiral of events thats lead them to where they are. If we helped people before things get out of hand to the point where there are no options. As we see in the movie James had a serious drug problem and had tried before to get clean but it wasnt until Bob came along that he saw a reason to go on. Per se. Thats what people need, theres no point if nothings going to change. Its just a vicious cicyle unless you stop that pattern. If we helped people before they got to the stage of crisis. Whether it be through financial support, family support, something along those lines. Thats where mental health comes in. Mental health and homelessness  are another big link. If we sorted out peoples mental health, people might be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. They could imagine a brighter future. Thats depression. Not seeing a future, the outlook bleak. Im not saying I'm an expert on things like this but evidence is out there that there is a mental health and homeless crisis in there own rights. Put the two together and you have a dangerous combo. This may just sound like a lot of rambling, I hope it makes sense and doesn't offend anyone.

I also read that apparently there has been a spike in ginger cat burglaries. Why?! Bob is not any cat, not every ginger cat is like Bob. These cats are people's pets, their companions. If you want to house a cat and give it a loving home, be it ginger or not, go to a cat shelter where there are tons of cats that need a home. Don't take a cat that is just being a cat and already has a loving family. That can scare a cat and make it easy for them to get lost. Put yourself in that cats feet. Imagine if some random stranger came and took you away from your home environment. Also put yourself in the cats family's shoes. The worry and heartache of not knowing what has happened and where their cat is. There was a family who lost their cat back in september and I actually messaged them to show my support. Their heartbreak and worry. They posted that if anyone saw their posters they put up to take them down because they can't face the pain of doing that. I still can't understand the motivation to hurt a cat or any animal. It dumbfounds me it really does. Animals have every right to live as we do. We are no better than them.

I just hope the movie gets the message out that given the chance to change and the help anyone can take their second chance. It just took James a furry friend to realise his opportunity.

So do go see the movie, especially if you love cats because there are moments in the moment that are so relatable. You sit there thinking 'yep I know that feeling' or 'My cat does that'.
I loved it and I will be first in the queue when its released on dvd.

Thank you for reading
until next time
Sophie